Bhandari Bridge repair continues, creating chaos

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 15

The civic authorities today started relaying of Bhandari Bridge road, which was washed away in the recent winter showers.

The local body authorities faced severe criticism from people who had questioned the quality of various development works being undertaken in different parts of the city. The potholed Bhandari Bridge road had become a commuter’s nightmare. It was laid just before the organisation of Heart of Asia-Istanbul process in the holy city in December 2016.

BR Arora, city mayor, said the road on the Bhandari Bridge was laid in emergency due to holding of the Heart of Asia conference where international dignitaries including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani had come.

However, because of a dip in temperature in the region, which is not suitable for construction of a road, the road could not hold for long and hence got damaged in the rain. He said the contractor, who was assigned the job of construction of the road, had been asked to repair it and the Municipal Corporation was not bearing any cost for it.

Meanwhile, the repair of the road has led to a severe traffic chaos. As the traffic from Queenz Road and Cooper Road leading to Bhandari Bridge was diverted from Court Road, there is usually a huge traffic jam. The people have a tough time while coming down and climbing up the bridge for the onward journey to Elevated Road or towards the Hall gate side.

Munish Kumar of Partap Nagar said the authorities should have repaired the road during night when there is no traffic. He said in the peak hours, the traffic is doubled and it further leads to massive chaos.